LSU football players are 'angry and ready to play' against Oregon

LSU football players were collectively relieved when talking to the media about what's going to happen on the field rather than what happened off it. With a game against Oregon on Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, players have shifted focus from suspensions, legal proceedings and black clouds drifting over the program to game planning.

Jennifer Zdon/The Times-PicayuneLSU left tackle Chris Faulk said Monday: 'We're getting tired of talking about the same stuff about this situation that we've been through. It's over with, and now it's time to focus on Oregon.'

"It's a big relief," Tigers sophomore offensive tackle Chris Faulk said. "We're getting tired of talking about the same stuff about this situation that we've been through. It's over with, and now it's time to focus on Oregon."

Running back Spencer Ware was just as happy to move the focus to the Ducks.

"It's a relief," Ware said. "It's something we've got to put behind us and move forward and worry about this victory we're about to get Saturday."

Faulk said there was a noticeable difference in the mood at practice Monday without familiar faces like Jefferson and Johns at practice. Players had a quiet focus.

"By us going through all of the situations we've been going through in the last two weeks, everybody is just angry and ready to play," Faulk said. "You could see it on guys' faces at practice even when stretching. Everybody is focused and ready. I think it's a blessing, but I'm sorry for the guys that had to go through that."

But when the players heard the news Friday, they weren't as refreshed.

"At first I was shocked," senior tight end DeAngelo Peterson said. "Me and Jordan are like brothers. We hang together a lot; we play games a lot. ... We were all pretty shocked."

Faulk said the team as a whole was upset by the entire situation.

"We don't want anything like that to happen to those guys, they're our brothers," Faulk said. "I hate that those guys had to go through that over something that could have been avoided. I know it's a bar fight, but that's something that we don't like around here."

With senior Jarrett Lee taking the reins at quarterback, Ware talked to Lee and gave him words of encouragement.

"I had a talk with Lee, and I said, 'We've got to do this. Whatever we've got to do, you've got to make the throws, you've got to make the reads, you've got to make the checks. We've got to rise to the occasion -- not just you, all of us,'" Ware said.

DWORACZYK OUT: LSU Coach Les Miles indicated that the only player likely to miss the opener against Oregon is senior guard Josh Dworaczyk.

What Miles was unable to clarify was how long Dworaczyk will be out of the lineup.

"I think Josh will be out for some time," Miles said. "There has been an evaluation on his injury, and he should be operated on in the next 10 days to 14 days."

Dworaczyk had started 23 consecutive games at left guard.

Freshman La' El Collins and senior T-Bob Hebert will vie for playing time in Dworaczyk's spot.

NO NEWS ON SHEPARD: Miles hasn't heard a date when junior wide receiver Russell Shepard will be able to return after he was declared ineligible for violating an NCAA bylaw last week.

LSU and the NCAA imposed the suspension on Shepard, who spoke with teammate Craig Loston about an NCAA inquiry.

"We're following the procedure that the NCAA allows for a member institution," Miles said. "We declared him ineligible, and we seek reinstatement immediately. That is the next part of the process and is ongoing. Hopefully, there will be some relief."